Best Truth: Intelligence in the Information Age

Best Truth is a manifesto for a new model of intelligence operations in the information age. The central theme is that intelligence is information; therefore, the intelligence community must keep apace of the information revolution. The authors argue that intelligence agencies' excessive emphasis on hierarchy and secrecy prevents them from responding to today's highly fluid information "marketplace." They propose a new, less centralized model of management that incorporates the private sector--in essence, outsourcing intelligence.

One would expect the best-funded intelligence service in the world to produce good results, but, unfortunately, the U.S. intelligence community continues to commit avoidable blunders (witness the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade). Intended as a provocative manifesto, this book calls for fundamental changes in the way that intelligence is collected, processed, and distributed by the U.S. government. Selected case studies are presented to illustrate problems and possible improvements. The authors call for more openness, a less hierarchical structure, and better cooperation with the private sector (which has lots of money and can respond faster). Continually evolving technological challenges will probably be overcome since this is what Americans do best, but it is hard to change a large bureaucracy with an entrenched worship of secrecy, unless it receives a giant, costly shock (e.g., the bombing of Pearl Harbor). The authors, who both started their careers at the CIA, previously collaborated on Strategic Intelligence for American National Security. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.
-Daniel K. Blewett, Loyola Univ. Lib., Chicago
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.